RTPrimerDB: the portal for real-time PCR primers and probes

RTPrimerDB (http://www.rtprimerdb.org) is a freely accessible database and analysis tool for real-time quantitative PCR assays. RTPrimerDB includes records with user submitted assays that are linked to genome information from reference databases and quality controlled using an in silico assay evaluation system. The primer evaluation tools intended to assess the specificity and to detect features that could negatively affect the amplification efficiency are combined into a pipeline to test custom-designed primer and probe sequences. An improved user feedback system guides users and submitters to enter practical remarks and details about experimental evaluation analyses. The database is linked with reference databases to allow the submission of assays for all genes and organisms officially registered in Entrez Gene and RefSeq. Records in RTPrimerDB are assigned unique and stable identifiers. The content is provided via an interactive web-based search system and is available for download in the recently developed RDML format and as bulk export file. RTPrimerDB is a one-stop portal for high-quality and highly annotated real-time PCR assays

Diagnositic value of pelvic enthesitis on MRI of the sacroiliac joints in enthesitis related arthritis

Background: To determine the prevalence and diagnostic value of pelvic enthesitis on MRI of the sacroiliac (SI) joints in enthesitis related arthritis (ERA). Methods: We retrospectively studied 143 patients aged 6-18 years old who underwent MRI of the SI joints for clinically suspected sacroiliitis between 2006-2014. Patients were diagnosed with ERA according to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) criteria. All MRI studies were reassessed for the presence of pelvic enthesitis, which was correlated to the presence of sacroiliitis on MRI and to the final clinical diagnosis. The added value for detection of pelvic enthesitis and fulfilment of criteria for the diagnosis of ERA was studied. Results: Pelvic enthesitis was seen in 23 of 143 (16 %) patients. The most commonly affected sites were the entheses around the hip (35 % of affected entheses) and the retroarticular interosseous ligaments (32 % of affected entheses). MRI showed pelvic enthesitis in 21 % of patients with ERA and in 13 % of patients without ERA. Pelvic enthesitis was seen on MRI in 7/51 (14 %) patients with clinically evident enthesitis, and 16/92 (17 %) patients without clinically evident enthesitis. In 7 of 11 ERA-negative patients without clinical enthesitis but with pelvic enthesitis on MRI, the ILAR criteria could have been fulfilled, if pelvic enthesitis on MRI was included in the criteria. There is a high correlation between pelvic enthesitis and sacroiliitis, with sacroiliitis present in 17/23 (74 %) patients with pelvic enthesitis. Conclusions: Pelvic enthesitis may be present in children with or without clinically evident peripheral enthesitis. There is a high correlation between pelvic enthesitis and sacroiliitis on MRI of the sacroiliac joints in children. As pelvic enthesitis indicates active inflammation, it may play a role in assessment of the inflammatory status. Therefore, it should be carefully sought and noted by radiologists examining MRI of the sacroiliac joints in children

Overheid in transitie(s)? Beleidsrollen en -instrumenten in een transitiecontext

In het themanummer gaan we in op grootschalige systeemveranderingen (‘transities’) en de mogelijke rol die de overheid kan en moet spelen ten aanzien van transities. Vooraleer we putten uit de rijke ervaringen en praktijken in de verschillende beleidsdomeinen, die in de volgende bijdragen van het themanummer aan bod komen, schetsen we in meer algemene zin de (verschuivende?) rol van de overheid en veranderingen met betrekking tot de door haar gehanteerde beleidsinstrumenten. Terwijl meer dwingende, directe en hiërarchische vormen van overheidssturing minder populair lijken te worden en er vaker naar ‘softe’ sturing wordt gegrepen, blijft overheidssturing ook vandaag nog vaak een combinatie van hiërarchie, markt en netwerk. We ronden deze bijdrage af met enkele richtvragen over de rol van de overheid ten aanzien van transities, die we voorleggen aan onderzoekers betrokken bij verschillende beleidsrelevante steunpunten.The politics and administration of institutional chang

Extra-articular hip endoscopy: a review of the literature

The aim of this review is to evaluate the current available literature evidencing on periarticular hip endoscopy (the third compartment). A comprehensive approach has been set on reports dealing with endoscopic surgery for recalcitrant trochanteric bursitis, snapping hip (or coxa-saltans; external and internal), gluteus medius and minimus tears and endoscopy (or arthroscopy) after total hip arthroplasty. This information can be used to trigger further research, innovation and education in extra-articular hip endoscopy

Anomalously-dense firn in an ice-shelf channel revealed by wide-angle radar

International audienceno abstrac

Conventional versus direct magnetic resonance imaging in detecting labral lesions in femoroacetabular impingment - a retrospective multicenter study.

The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of Direct Magnetic Resonance Arthography (MRA) and Conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in diagnosing labral lesions in patients with symptoms of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Materials and methods: Imaging and surgical data (n=490) were retrospectively collected from 5 high-volume centres providing arthroscopic treatment of FAI patients. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging findings were compared with the actual surgical findings regarding labral condition in order to assess the effectiveness of MRI and MRA in identifying the presence of labral tears in patients with FAI. The results of this study indicate that MM and MRA may both be useful for the diagnosis of acetabular labral lesions. The accuracy is slightly higher for MRI (71,4 %) compared to MRA (68,2 %), although MRA has higher sensitivity (74.4%,) as compared to MRI (66,9%). Conclusions: In a clinically suspected labral tear MRA has higher sensitivity than MRI. Further studies on asymptomatic patients may be needed to determine the specificity of different MRI techniques